Former Arsenal ‘invincible’ says team were wrong to celebrate finishing fourth

Freddie Ljungberg hits out at the current crop of players at the Emirates.

Arsenal legend Freddie Ljungberg has revealed his dismay at the side he won five trophies at when they celebrated finishing fourth on the final day of the season.

Ljungberg won two league titles and three FA Cups with the Gunners and was also part of the ‘Invincibles’ side of 2003/04 – who played an entire Premier League campaign without losing a game.

Yet since 2005 Arsenal have failed to win a single trophy and the Swede is bemused at why the players were celebrating their 0-1 win over Newcastle and fourth-placed finish on May 19.

“I’m not too happy that they celebrated,” Ljungberg said in the Telegraph.

“How I see the club is different, I’m from the old school and Pat Rice said to me if you don’t win a trophy every year it is a big failure.”

Another inconsistent season for Arsene Wenger and his men meant the north London side were in a three-horse race for Champions League football with city rivals Chelsea and Tottenham, come the end of the season.

The Blues confirmed their third-place finish with a match to spare, but heading into the final match both Arsenal and Spurs could still finish fourth, with the Gunners holding just a one point advantage over Andre Villas-Boas’ side.

As it was victory at St James’ Park was good enough to confirm top European football at the Emirates for a 17th consecutive campaign, but Ljungberg believes this achievement alone was not enough to celebrate at a football club of the Gunners’ stature.